Well it’s been a hectic summer – weddings, holidays, music & beer festivals – and my blog has been sadly neglected 😦 So to remedy this, and get us in the mood for some serious off-season blogging, here is the cracking – and very exhausting – 3 set playlist from my latest wedding at a superb venue in one of the most beautiful villages in France. Continue reading
One of the best things about my job is getting to know every couple in order to create the perfect playlist for their cocktail or reception. When a couple has such varied tastes as Sarah & Dean, the problem becomes less what to put in and more what to leave out! 
Sarah had given me a brief of ‘romantic, relaxed and fun,’ so working with this and their love of stage and film music I could select pieces I knew they would enjoy based on their favourite artists – Michael Bublé, Take That, Norah Jones – and even include their favourite songs – Etta James’ ‘At Last’ and Elton John’s ‘Your Song’. Continue reading
With his inimitable warbling, nonchalant style, Charles Tremet’s La Mer epitomises the French chanson. Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Robbie Williams and the surprisingly good Kevin Spacey have all had a go at the English version ‘Beyond the Sea’, but the Version Originale surpasses all pretenders. For me you just can’t substitute the imagery of moutons blancs, but maybe I’m an incurable romantic…
There’s nothing more à la Française than La Vie en Rose by Edith Piaf and it’s just perfect for such a romantic occasion. Expect an impromptu sing-a-long wherever you are.
Along with your first dance, the song you walk down the aisle to will be the most important musical choice you make, and often can be the most difficult. You want something classic and elegant, but ‘Here Comes the Bride’ (Wagner’s ‘Bridal March’) isn’t really your thang, and Pachelbel ‘Canon in D’ is so overdone, (and will probably kill your ‘cellist) so what do you choose? Here are my suggestions for a beautiful and timeless entrance that’s just a little bit different… Continue reading
If string quartet or harpist immediately springs to mind when you consider your ceremony music, you have to read this…
You have your heart set on walking down the aisle to live music, so the obvious choice is string quartet or harpist. But apart from being a bit last century could you also be missing out on other opportunities?
Let’s cut to the bottom line: Everyone is on a budget, and you need to know how much this is going to cost, but be very careful when comparing prices as there can often be hidden extras involved… Continue reading
Ever since I discovered Chez Les Rois at frenchweddingvenue.com I have been looking forward to playing there. On Sunday my wish finally came true. And it surpassed all expectation… Continue reading
When it comes to music for their ceremony or cocktail hour, some brides know exactly what they want, and some know exactly what they don’t want. But what happens if she has no idea at all?! Continue reading
Those of you old enough to remember the 80’s like it was yesterday will be all too familiar with the concept of the ‘mixed tape.’ For those not in the know, it was a compilation you painstakingly put together on cassette tape for a loved one – most often a boy/girl you were trying to impress. Mixed tapes took time, thought, effort and energy – no dragging and dropping mp3 files onto a virtual playlist – a mixed tape was a real, physical thing you gave to someone as a token of your affection, to show that they were worth all the trouble, to show you cared. You hand wrote the sleeve in your best writing; tracks were carefully selected, edited, ripped off the radio on a Sunday afternoon, or copied from your vinyl music collection; selection criteria included poignant and meaningful lyrics with not-so-hidden messages, their favourite band, your favourite band, and always included a slightly quirky, off-the-wall choice to prove you were a hip, kinda interesting person, who above all, knew a bit about music. Despite nostalgia not being what it used to be, (and cassette now being an almost obsolete format,) the mixed tape philosophy lives on today, and it is in the spirit of this philosophy that I put together the playlists for my Happy Couples, one by one, piece by piece, individually crafted with love, just for you…
Samantha Bramley - Wedding Ceremony & Event Music in France 